Outcome and characteristics of patients with malignant pleural effusion from differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Pleural effusion as a novel prognostic factor in metastatic thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To identify novel prognostic risk factors and compare them with other known prognostic risk factors in follicular-cell-derived thyroid carcinoma (FDTC) with distant metastases.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of adult patients with metastatic FDTC seen at a tertiary care center between January 1990 and December 2010. A 15-year Kaplan-Meier survival estimate was created for overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Hazard ratios (HR) and P values from Cox proportional hazard models were used with a 95% CI.

RESULTS

There were 143 patients (60.1% male, 39.9% female), of whom 104 (72.7%) patients had papillary, 30 (21.0%) had follicular, 5 (3.5%) had poorly differentiated, and 4 (2.8%) had Hürthle cell cancers. Median length of follow-up was 80.0 months (range 1.0-564.0). The 15-year mortality rate was 32.2% and cancer-specific mortality was 25.2%, with OS and CSS having the same risk factors. Lung was the most common site of metastases in 53 patients (37.1%), and patients with pleural effusions had significantly lower CSS (HR = 5.21, CI = 1.79-15.12). Additional risk factors for a decreased CSS included: older age upon diagnosis (>45 years, HR = 4.15, CI = 1.43-12.02), multiple metastatic locations (HR = 3.75, CI = 1.32-10.67), and incomplete/unknown tumor resection (HR = 2.35, CI = 1.18-4.67).

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to demonstrate that pleural effusion is a poor prognostic sign in patients with FDTC with distant metastases and compare this risk with other accepted prognostic variables.

Pleural fluid due to papillary thyroid cancer

We report herein a rare case of massive pleural effusion caused by papillary thyroid cancer, which was accompanied by multiple pulmonary metastasis. A 91-year-old male patient presented with shortness of breath due to massive right pleural fluid. Cytological specimens, which were obtained from pleural fluid by thoracentesis, and was consistent with that observed in surgically resected thyroid cancer 6-year previously. Immunocytochemical staining of the cells was positive for cytokeratin (CK)-7, CK-19, and positive for thyroglobulin. Massive pleural fluid due to a metastatic from papillary thyroid cancer is very rare but may develop in long-term survivors with this disease as observed in this case.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations in Lung Adenocarcinomas: A Single Center Study from Iran

Introduction: Lung cancer is the fifth leading tumor in Iran, and while its incidence remains relatively low, it has been increasing steadily. Targeted therapies have brought new hope to patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is the prototype member of the type I receptor tyrosine kinase (TK) family and plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Studies from Asian countries have revealed a higher frequency of EGFR mutations than in the West. The aim of this study was to measure the frequency and type of EGFR mutations in a group of Iranian patients with lung adenocarcinomas. Methods: Formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) lung adenocarcinoma tissues from 103 Iranian patients were sequentially tested for EGFR mutations by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct nucleotide sequencing of exons 18, 19, 20, and 21. Patient’s demographics and other clinical details were obtained from the medical records of hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS v.20. Results: EGFR mutations were detected in 25/103 (24.3%) patients. The most frequent was an exon 21 point mutation (L858R) (15 patients; 60%), followed by one in exon 19 (10 patients; 40%). The frequency of EGFR mutations in never-smoker patients was significantly higher than in smokers (68% versus 32%; p < 0. 01). Conclusion: EGFR mutation frequency is higher than in the West but lower than in East Asian and almost equal to reported rates for Indian and North African populations. Smoking is negatively associated with EGFR mutations in Iranian lung adenocarcinomas.

Prognostic role of FDG PET/CT in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer treated with 131-iodine empiric therapy

BACKGROUND

To assess the long-term prognostic value of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) undergoing empiric radioiodine (RAI) therapy due to raising values of thyroglobulin (Tg).

METHODS

Forty-nine patients with histological diagnosis of DTC (31 with papillary and 18 with follicular carcinoma) follow-up for a mean period of 7.9 ± 5 years after empiric RAI therapy were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

FDG-PET/CT was negative in 15 (30.6%) patients and positive in 34 (69.4%), whereas postradioiodine therapy whole body scan (t-WBS) was negative in 16 (32.7%) and positive in 33 (67.3%) patients. FDG-PET/CT and t-WBS were in agreement in 32 patients (7 both negative and 25 both positive); on the contrary, in 17 patients there was disagreement between FDG-PET/CT and t-WBS (P =ns). At short-term follow-up, Tg normalized in 19 (38.8%) patients and was unchanged or increased in 30 (61.2%). Of the 15 patients with negative FDG-PET/CT, 11 (73.3%) showed Tg normalization, whereas of the 34 patients with positive FDG-PET/CT, only 8 (23.5%) had Tg normalization (χ =8.9, P < .005). At multivariate analysis, FDG-PET/CT and Tg normalization at short-term follow-up were independent predictors of disease-free survival (χ =26.3, P < .0001), while Tg normalization was the only variable associated with overall survival χ =7.2, P < .01).

CONCLUSION

FDG-PET/CT in association with Tg normalization at short-term follow-up may be useful for long-term prognostic stratification in DTC patients.

Metastatic thyroid carcinoma presenting as malignant pleural effusion: A cytologic review of 5 cases

Malignant pleural effusion can be a manifestation of many malignancies. Involvement of pleural fluid by metatstatic thyroid carcinoma, though reported, is relatively rare. We present 5 cases of metastatic thyroid carcinoma involving the pleural fluid. The diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma in pleural fluid can be particularly challenging as thyroid transcription factor -1 (TTF-1) which is a marker for carcinoma of thyroid origin is also positive in lung adenocarcinomas (which are more frequently associated with pleural effusions) and thyroglobulin (TG) can often be negative in poorly differentiated/analplastic thyroid carcinomas. In our experience, PAX8 is a particularly useful marker in making the distinction. The diagnosis of metastatic thyroid carcinoma in pleural fluid can be challenging and knowledge of the clinical context and supporting immunohistochemical stains is essential for making the right diagnosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:1085-1089. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.